Online system and method for providing interactive medical images

Abstract

An online method for providing interactive medical images over a communication network includes receiving a request from a client computer via the communication network for a diagnostic imaging modality image. The diagnostic imaging modality image is retrieved from a database. A user interface is generated and is configured to display the diagnostic imaging modality image. The user interface also includes navigation controls for navigating the diagnostic imaging modality. The diagnostic imaging modality image and the user interface are then transmitter via the communication network to the client computer. The communication network may be the Internet and the user interface may be a Web page.

1 . An online method for providing interactive medical images over a communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving a request from a client computer via the communication network for a diagnostic imaging modality image;   retrieving the diagnostic imaging modality image from a database;   generating a user interface configured to display the diagnostic imaging modality image and including navigation controls for navigating the diagnostic imaging modality image; and   transmitting the diagnostic imaging modality image and the user interface via the communication network to the client computer.   
   
   
       2 . An online method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication network is the Internet. 
   
   
       3 . An online method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a Web page. 
   
   
       4 . An online method according to  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic imaging modality image is one of a MRI image, a CT image, an X-ray image and an ultrasound image. 
   
   
       5 . An online method according to  claim 1 , wherein the navigation controls include at least one of zoom, pan, rotate and navigate. 
   
   
       6 . An online method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes at least one configurable region for including branding information. 
   
   
       7 . An online method according to  claim 1 , wherein the request is generated by a user selecting a link on a Web page displayed on the client computer, the Web page associated with a third party. 
   
   
       8 . An online system for providing interactive medical imaging images over a communication network, the system comprising:
 a first user interface configured to receive user input including a request for a diagnostic imaging modality image;   a database configured to store a plurality of diagnostic imaging modality images; and   a server coupled to the first user interface via the communication network and coupled to the database, the server configured to retrieve the requested diagnostic imaging modality image and to generate a second user interface, the second user interface configured to display the diagnostic imaging modality image and including navigation controls for navigating the diagnostic imaging modality image.   
   
   
       9 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the communication network is the Internet. 
   
   
       10 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the second user interface is a Web page. 
   
   
       11 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the diagnostic imaging modality image and the second user interface are transmitter via the communication network to a client computer. 
   
   
       12 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the diagnostic imaging modality image is one of a MRI image, a CT image, an X-ray image and an ultrasound image. 
   
   
       13 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the navigation controls include at least one of zoom, pan, rotate and navigate. 
   
   
       14 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the second user interface includes at least one configurable region for including branding information. 
   
   
       15 . An online system according to  claim 8 , wherein the request is generated by a user selecting a link on a Web page displayed on the first user interface, the Web page associated with a third party.